Scranton republican

THE MORMON PROBLEM.
The new contributions of literature bear-ing upon the Mormon problem are more noticeable for the singular ideas advanced in them than for any very great value in their tendency to abolish the evil. Opposed to the theory of Rev. Dr. Armitt, who thinks that polygamy can be shown to be a species of constructive slavery and therefore obnoxious to the Thirteenth Amendment, is General Rosecrans' view that a new constitutional amendment is necessary. He has therefore prepared one prohibiting polygamy and giving Congress power to deal with the subject. Both these eminent gentlemen seem to think that if the Mormons are once convinced that their nefarious practices are unconstitution-al, they will make haste to abondon them. Inasmuch however as polygamy has been declared by the Revised Statutes to be an in-dictable offense punishable by fine and im-prisonment, it is not likely that constitutional enactments will bring any especially new effec-tiveness to bear on the subject. The Mormon who defies the enactment making polygamy criminal, will not be likely to be overwhelmed with remorse at finding that he has a few un-constitutional wives. Many who undertake to discuss this subject fail to recognize the fact that it is not a question of law-making, but of law-enforcing. There is already more than enough law to wipe out Mormonism. But it is because the executive and legislative branches of the Government both shrink from a stern enforcement of the law by the military arm, with the possible horror of bloodshed attendant upon the act, that Mormonism is able to ignore the enactments of the National Government.

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THE MORMON PROBLEM.
The new contributions of literature bear-ing upon the Mormon problem are more noticeable for the singular ideas advanced in them than for any very great value in their tendency to abolish the evil. Opposed to the theory of Rev. Dr. Armitt, who thinks that polygamy can be shown to be a species of constructive slavery and therefore obnoxious to the Thirteenth Amendment, is General Rosecrans' view that a new constitutional amendment is necessary. He has therefore prepared one prohibiting polygamy and giving Congress power to deal with the subject. Both these eminent gentlemen seem to think that if the Mormons are once convinced that their nefarious practices are unconstitution-al, they will make haste to abondon them. Inasmuch however as polygamy has been declared by the Revised Statutes to be an in-dictable offense punishable by fine and im-prisonment, it is not likely that constitutional enactments will bring any especially new effec-tiveness to bear on the subject. The Mormon who defies the enactment making polygamy criminal, will not be likely to be overwhelmed with remorse at finding that he has a few un-constitutional wives. Many who undertake to discuss this subject fail to recognize the fact that it is not a question of law-making, but of law-enforcing. There is already more than enough law to wipe out Mormonism. But it is because the executive and legislative branches of the Government both shrink from a stern enforcement of the law by the military arm, with the possible horror of bloodshed attendant upon the act, that Mormonism is able to ignore the enactments of the National Government.